ChelseaW

Interesting, did not know that. But of about 10 desks only 2 were occupied/working, so I assume if you don't come in really early (I was there 30 min before opening and the line was already around the corner outside), you'll be there quite a while. Not sure this has always been the case or if they are also suffering from recent budget cuts and layoffs.

Update after appointment : They had to retake my picture. No prints. I asked, but the lady did not really state the reason - I did not quite get the feeling the people working there were that familiar with the "why's", they were just doing their jobs. Oh well. Hopefully GC arrives soon now.

Thank you guys! Will go Friday and let you know what I can find out. I'm just irritated why this is not checked already at the consulate stage... One would think if photos or fingerprints are insufficient, they'd see that in the system right away. Oh well.. 🙃

Hi together, Not sure if this is a topic for General or the CR1 subthread, so Mods please move if necessary. I entered the US on April 15 on CR1. My understanding was that the Greencard is being mailed to the address on file with USCIS / provided during the NVC stage. I paid the ~230$ back in January, right after my interview at Frankfurt Consulate. Today we got an I-797 with pretty short notice, to appear at a local USCIS service center this coming Friday to take biometrics. I'm a little confused - is this standard procedure? I thought they took all biometrics in Frankfurt and we provided the passport picture. Has anyone had similar experience and can share some insight? It's just not what I expected so I'm a bit confused and worried. Thank you!

Yes, understood! Global entry "update" for future travel would be nice though.

Thanks everyone for the detailed answers! I'll be traveling back with my husband, so we'll ask what line to go for. Luckily no connecting flights. Also interesting facts here, I did not know I could update global entry to my CR1. That would indeed be nice. Dulles is always packed if not arriving late at night. 🙂

I have the passport with the page, yes. So it's been issued. .. But I thought it's only "activated" once stamped, so I was unsure what my travel document is at this point. I will provide United Airlines the travel document type "US visa" and type in the number. Thanks pushbrk, it's kind of confusing with the lines. Last time I traveled through IAD as a foreigner I waited 3.5 hours in line.. It's always a pain there 🫣 Hopefully it'll go quicker this time.

Hi, This might be a dumb question, or I'm overthinking it, but for those of you who went through consular processing outside the US and got the visa page in your passport... "how" do I enter the States? 1) United Airlines asks for travel document... So, am I technically still arriving on ESTA until my CR1 page has been stamped, or do I select "US visa" and type in the number listed on passport page? 2) in case someone knows Dulles Airport.. what line did you end up in? I'm coming in through Dulles and used Global Entry before... Am I a US Citizen/LPR line candidate, am I a foreign visitor, should I still go through Global Entry? Thanks!!! Just don't want any confusion by checking "ESTA" with the airline if it should be a visa. To my understanding it's only a valid visa once it's stamped by the agent there.

Thanks! Is this kept up to date? Looks like most cards never arrived 😐

Nah, we are about 6 months away from it, but all that time apart is already strenuous so we don't really want to wait... So we're going to bite the bullet, pay another large fee and go for it. I'd like to hear how it went for people, though. Is it really that easy, I'm just walking around with an expired greencard and showing some USCIS filing notice if asked? I will probably end up filing for naturalization after 3 years living in the US as a spouse so that might really get approved faster.

Thanks everyone for replies! Fingers crossed SSN will get there ASAP and we won't have to hunt it down. Unfortunately I'm also going to be CR1 and from what I've been reading the removal of conditions is going to be a mess. 30 months processing time? 😱

Hi all, I did not find any more recent topics regarding this, if there is one, please direct me. Once I-130 / DS-260 / Interview Stage all done and you entered the US to be with your spouse, how long did it take you to get the SSN and actual Green Card (the plastic card) ? During DS-260 we opted for the SSN delivery to our home address, but I am curious if this really gets triggered into motion once I enter the US or if we better check in with the local SSN office right away? Same for physical green card - I know my passport will serve as a greencard for up to 1 year, but does it really take USCIS up to a full year to mail the greencard to us? Looking for some experience reports from recently. Thank you 😊

Update - UPS Delivery today. So it took exactly 1 week from interview to delivery.

I had my interview today 😉 and all went well. I chose shipping, even though in Germany. They generally tell you that the passport will be shipped back to you within two weeks, although I honestly don't think it'll be that long. I can keep you updated how long it'll take. I would plan with a few weeks though. The processing of the visa might take longer than the actual shipping, even abroad. Plus, you just never know if they are asking for additional documents or evidence.

Hey, I got the letter for interview appointment about 20 days later. You should hear from them soon! Good luck!

Hi, We were Vermont Service Center. Filed a K3 approx. 3 weeks after the I-130, the message that the K3 got denied we received about five days after the I-130 approval. I'm not sure if they looked at the K3 first, or the I-130.

Best of luck, we did not expedite or anything.

GUYS! Approved today, consular processing, NOA 1 2023-11-20. I'm over the moon right now! And I know some people way before Nov 2023 are still waiting.. Don't give up hope. Hang in. It's happening.

That's good news, looks like they have appointments pretty readily available then? I was worried they are going in backlog with taking on all these extra cases from other embassies.

Hi all, Since the data I found in the general thread is over a year old and apparently the US embassy in Frankfurt is taking over transfer cases from other locations, too, I wanted to ask if anyone has more recent info on how long it'll take from DQ to Interview letter to Interview (CR1, US citizen petition for spouse) I know it can shift, but we're all trying to plan "wrapping up our life", so it would help me a lot if I had at least a bit of an average time frame. Thank you!

Könntest du dann nicht ganz einfach mit deinem amerikanischen Pass in DE ein-, und eben auch ausreisen? Flugticket Name müsste dann ja eh auf diesen Pass gebucht sein. Ich bin da aber auch noch maximal verwirrt, bin ja noch im Visumsprozess und habe meinen Mädchennamen. Da wir recht schnell alles submitten wollten hab ich mir hier in DE den Aufwand mit Namensänderung nicht angefangen... Würde aber schon nach approved Greencard und Umzug das gern irgendwann mal angehen und den Nachnamen meines Koalitionspartners annehmen. Weiss jemand wie das dann läuft? Ändert man den nur in US und auf Greencard, oder auch im deutschen Reisepass? Dann stimmen Reisepass und Visum Namen ja nicht mehr überein.. 🤔

Hi guys, Fingers crossed for all of you. I'm a few months behind, but how do I see my VJ estimate? Mine says there's not enough data in the system to calculate an estimate?

Heyho, ich mal wieder... Auch noch am Warten auf I-130 Consular. Bald sind wir bei 12 Monaten, das heißt es geht langsam in die heißere Phase, drückt uns die Daumen für schnelles Approval. Frage an die, die es schon geschafft haben: wie viel Zeit würdet ihr für NVC und Frankfurt/Interview einplanen? Ich weiß ich weiß, man soll seinen Job theoretisch nicht bis zum Ende kündigen, aber ich muss ja planen und würde das eigentlich schon im laufenden Prozess tun wollen... Weiss aber nicht, wie lange NVC Stage, medical, warten auf Termin etc dauern werden. Tips / Erfahrungen?

Hey all, I've read through this thread and would like to ask another I-864 related question. We are currently preparing for the NVC stage after submitting our I-130 Standalone/Consular filing. Once we get to NVC, it's DS-260 and I-864 from what I gathered... but... which I-864? I am confused about the different forms at this stage: I-864, I-864EZ, I-864A. Situation: Sponsor is active military US Citizen currently living in the US filing for beneficiary abroad. I-864EZ states: You may use Form I-864EZ if ALL the following conditions apply: 1. You are the person who filed or is filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for a relative being sponsored; <<< That would be my husband (petitioner) filling out the I-864 and he filed the I-130, so I guess MET? 2. The relative you are sponsoring is the only person listed on Form I-130; and <<< I am the only beneficiary on I-130, no children or stepchildren 3. The income you are using to qualify is based entirely on your salary or pension and is shown on one or more Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form W-2s provided by your employers or former employer <<< means if we supply the past 3 IRS tax returns or tax transcripts and are over poverty line, we are fine? ... so, do we file I-864EZ? Or is there any downside and we should just go with I-864?

Congratulations!!! 🙂 Wann gehst du rüber? Erzähl gern mal im Detail, wenn du Zeit hast. Würde mich interessieren, wie es ablief, steht mir ja auch noch bevor.. Kann man die Immigrant Visa Termine in Frankfurt, wie eben IR1/CR1 eigentlich verschieben? Oder wartet man dann ewig? Hab gelesen, die werden einem ja zugeteilt. Bin Ende des Jahres längere Zeit im Urlaub. Nicht, dass man planen könnte wann man in welcher Stage approved wird, aber der Teufel ist bekanntlich ein Eichhörnchen..